reminded | No. 001 - Simple Addition [Written]

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No. 001 - Simple Addition [Written]

[It's about time to give this device a go. In neat, legible writing is simply the following:]

5 + 5 + 5 = 550

It appears I have my arithmetic out of sorts. However, it would be a shame to scrap the equation entirely. Can you help me correct it by adding a single straight line?

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[~~why not both?~~ Okay, definitely not from Red's world then. Oh well.]

Yeah, everything grows huge back home because of the crystal, especially the plants! There's an island called Viszla that's really just one huge plant.

A plant island, you say? Fascinating. [Is that even physically possible? Not that he doubts Red's word.]

What exactly is this crystal? What property does it own that allows it to magnify growth?

Let me start from the top.

[Lots of rough drawings here. It seems to be a bunch of islands floating in the sky, having a variety of structures on them. One of them seems to look... vaguely like a giant plant.]

Almost everything floats back home, because of the crystal. It's also a fuel source. [A smaller drawing, looking like a pool of liquid dripping upwards. There's a circle floating just above that.] I guess it messes with living things.

[Floating in the sky? Now it's starting to sound outrageous. But... if it is true, then he wishes he could see it for himself.]

Most unusual. By my standards, at any rate. Did you live in the sky as well?

Of course! Me and another person captained an airship an' took on jobs for people on other islands. [Continuing with the bad drawings, here's said ship. It really doesn't look like it could fly normally.]

What about you? What's your world like?

[Airships... He's never going to know what to make of this.]

It borders banality next to yours, I'm afraid. It is earthbound and looks much like Luceti without the wings, experiments, and malicious third parties. [Mostly, anyway.] Add more cars, roads, and buildings, and I think that should paint a fairly accurate picture.

Earthbound? So nothing floats, like one big island? It might be a refreshing change.

[Another picture, this time of a dog-person falling through the sky into a bunch of electrified clouds.] This kind of thing is frightening.

Why yes, I suppose you could say that the Earth is like one big island drifting through the sea of space.

[He scrutinizes Red's illustration. It does look like a nightmarish scenario... He only hopes that parachutes are in wide practice there.] It would be a very long fall, to be sure. I suppose living on solid ground poses its own risks, but none so final yet tortuously prolonged as a simple tumble from the sky.

[...] Yeah. Hey, you mentioned Earth... does that mean you're a human? I think most of the people who come from there are.

Who are you, anyway?

Well... yes, I am a human. Is that to say you are not?

Oh, of course. Forgive my manners. My name is Hershel Layton. I come from London, but I should suspect you've never heard of it.

Oh, I didn't realize the camera was off! I was too focused on the puzzles. Let me see...

[It may take a while, but he'll get that camera going. Hi, Layton, have a dog-person waving at you; looks like he's got the audio working too.]

Nice t' meet you, Hershel! I'm Red! Definitely not human, and I've never heard of London.

[Layton blinks in surprise at the sudden video and yet tries not to stare at the same time, forgetting that Red can't see him. He puts his pen to paper for a moment before remembering that he can just turn his camera on. By the time he does so, he only looks the tiniest bit shell-shocked.]

Red. It's a pleasure. What would you call yourself, if not a human?

Caninu! "Dog-person" works too, or just dog, but I'd prefer Caninu. I'm guessin' you haven't got any of me on Earth?

[If he noticed any weirdness in Layton's expression, he's certainly not doing anything about it.]

Actually, tell me a little more about this Earth place! It sounds interestin'!

[How quaint.] "Caninu"... That is quite an apt name. I've never seen anyone quite like you on Earth -- only canines of the non-person variety. I don't suppose you have humans of the non-person variety to match?

As for Earth, it is difficult to sum up in only a few words. As I said, most people live on the ground, though travel by air and ship are common. Watership, I should say. The planet is heavily populated by humans, who can live in anything from small villages to vast metropolises.

[...That is a weird mental image, Layton.]

N-nope, all we got for other mammals is gius...

Anyhow, that doesn't sound that different. People live on the islands, we got airships and airplanes, automobiles in the big islands, same kinda livin' situations... bettin' you don't have a plasma cloud sea on Earth, though. [Or maybe they do and it's just above them instead?]

[He can't rule out any possibility!]

I've heard of plasma clouds, but I don't believe the ones I'm familiar with linger to form seas. Is this a side-effect of this crystal of yours as well?

Nobody knows on that one. There's just a buncha plasma below all the islands, and if you fall in that, you're toast. Might be crystals or Nono or some other stuff like that.

Oh, before you ask, Nono's somethin' in the air that cats can use to cast spells and stuff. Caninu don't really use it, but we're awesome with machines. I think it's a good trade.

[... Cats casting spells, he says. Did that explain things or only raise more questions?]

It's clear that we come from very foreign worlds, my friend. I think I could ask you questions all day and still find my curiosity unsatisfied.

I think I could do the same! Hey, maybe we could meet up one day over tea or lunch and talk about this stuff? Maybe you can give me a coupla more puzzles! I bet I can figure out that donkey one by then, too!

[You had him at 'tea'. Twice over at 'puzzles'.]

Why, that's a marvelous proposal, Red. You've made me an offer I cannot refuse. Once I have myself situated, I'll be certain to give you a ring.

Sounds good! [Oh, right, he forgot that Layton was new. Maybe he should have, you know, helped him out.] Before I go, d'you need a paw with anythin'?

Ha ha! [A paw, he says.] I think I'll be able to find my way around. But thank you for the offer.

No problem! Good luck with things!

[Time to close the journal and think about that puzzle some more.]

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